Open-access Report.pdf

Supporting ethnic minority traders and businesses in local high streets and centres:
Report of Social Life’s work with the “Super-diverse streets” ESRC research project.
The project explores economies and spaces on streets in four UK cities: Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester, and Manchester.
Social Life's research aimed to convene local discussions to explore how streets and traders can thrive through mutual aid and efforts to promote their own interests.
Key messages include:
1. Councils need to recognise the value of street-based retail and its contribution to local economies.
2. Councils should acknowledge the social value of migrant and ethnic minority retailers.
3. Street-based retailers' critical issues, such as parking and safety, are core to their businesses.
4. Engagement and consultation activities should recognise the practical difficulties traders face attending meetings.
5. Supporting traders to strengthen their informal networks is effective and inexpensive.
6. Bureaucratic and administrative barriers cause frustration and flexibility is needed.
7. New forms of partnership between local authorities and local trading groups are needed, avoiding a 'one-size fits all' approach.
Research was conducted in Birmingham and Leicester, with workshops held in each city to bring together traders, community representatives, and council officers.
Scoping conversations were held with traders, faith organisations, community centres, local authorities, and NGOs in both cities.